Viral Respiratory Infections and the Meaning of Life

I've started a painting that I don't like.
Isn't that the worst? It is so hardly started that I feel like I should give it more time, but... it's just a sad painting and I don't want to paint it.
I have been under the weather so completely since Sunday night, and I've been taken care of by a good good man.
I missed some things I would have liked to see last year, so I'm going to commit some time to joining mailing lists. And then I'm going to commit to leaving my house.
Do you ever just think "maybe it's me? maybe I should change the way I paint and think and decorate and blend and finish and then my paintings will be better liked?" I think that. Because I can't find a gallery out here that shows things anything like my things. Stupid things.
I need another 13 hour nap...
-sicky

WHAT!?!

HEY!

I was gonna write about how I reorganized my entire life today. Simplify simplify simplify. BUT!! I decided to check out the new work by one of my favorite painters, Leah Tinari, and what do I find? A portrait of an old friend painted by Miss Tinari. So, yah! I'm not so close to the little lady anymore but I'm still blown away. I have a million questions first one being "I thought you lived in Cleveland, howww do you know Leah Tinari?" Anywho, it's way cute...

"Rosie Cheek Punk Rock Cutie"

Mind blown. Time to go to Zumba. Anything I will write is lame compared to ^.

Love,
Roni!

Iambic Pentameter

Sunday, my buddy gave me a book of his poems.  He had made copies for a few friends that would appreciate it, and I totally do.  However, on the inner cover there was a note that said  "Roni, (yada yada yada)  'I thought that you probably could care less about poetry and all this other crap.' (etc)."  This seriously made me laugh out loud for two reasons 1.  It was a hilarious and random personal greeting  and 2. I love poems and short stories and reading. Combine that with my sincere interest in knowing everything about everyone and a poetry book by a buddy is just the ticket.  Anyway, I really like it.

With that said, I thought it would be appropriate to post something that I've written that I don't think is awful. I took a creative writing course in college and it was really great.  This was my favorite piece from that class.  Just to be clear, I don't consider myself a writer by any stretch of the word. But, I do think this poem illustrates a good transition between image and word based representation.  Neither of these should be mutually exclusive but people tend to latch onto one type. ANYWAYYY...

A Portrait; Couples

I awake to a guttural sobbing.  It is barely audible but for the crack under the bedroom door.  But, it lingers above me, holding my lids apart.  Staying in bed becomes the more unstable option as it permeates my comforter safe house.

Assuming a position at the top of the stairway, my stomach flattened to the floorboards.  The sobbing is not alone.  It is coupled with a hush. A hush hush hush.  After each pulse of the hush, the sobbing seems increasingly satiated.  Wavering only in the skipping gasps; it is constant but not aggressive. And then the hush hush hush.

Earlier I had sensed a tension between them.   Encouraged by ignorance, wrongs were unleashed after “goodnights.”  Still, it is clear that they love each other. They are necessary.  Without the hush, the sob would get louder and frustrated.  Moans to cries.  Perhaps without the sob, the hush would not exist.  There is no one else the hush would rather comfort.  They breathe together now.  The sob has slowed to a whimper while the hush hum hum hums a kiss into hot skin. 

The whimper laughs.  It is barely audible but for my unobstructed ear.  The hum breathes a thankful sigh and falls silent. I retreat and find that my bed is still warm.

Dr. Sketchy's tonight. The model is a CONTORTIONIST! So so excited!

Roni!

I don't think my love of kitten paintings is ironical

because I watch tons of kitten videos on youtube, and that isn't me being ironic.
Youngin's are in a fight outside my window.
They're saying "fuck" a lot.

robots in disguise

I want this transformer!  It's way fun and uber-practical. You could go on some great road trips in this.  Mine would be more girly though, for sure.

Finished and sent the spreads for JJAMM.  Can't wait to see what the final product looks like, she didn't really explain her idea so I have no idea what to expect. 

Today and tomorrow I'm assigned (pretending) to be a stylist at work.  My jorb keeps me on my toes, that's for sure. Mostly I just fumble my way through it but I haven't been fired yet soooo yay!

Tomorrow night: hangouts with Sophie!

KaySeeYa!
Roni!
   

brainiac

The second half of this entry has a drawing.  It's not done but I'm pretty excited about it. I thought about it and I realized I haven't made a drawing for a finished personal piece in nearly a year and a half.  I've sketched and errrything but there's been nothing of substance in a long while.  But FIRST...
 
What I've done today that was dumb:
-Show up at 10 am for my 12 noon dentist appointment.
-Go to the store to get bread but left with about $30 worth of food that was not bread.
-Drive to Kinkos to make copies for copy transfer only to get home and realize I forgot to reverse the image.
-Drive to Don Drumm in Akron to find it closed for inventory (not really my fault but still dumb)

What I've done that is smart. SO SMART that it may outweigh the dumb!:

Yogurt with a mountain of fruit salad on top

C'mannn you know that's genius. Instant mood booster!













Here's the drawing that I went to photocopy.  It's not finished, i'm going to add watercolor and possibly make some alt versions using markers or acrylic. We'll see. It's for a friends zine JJAMM.

Good day to you, sir!

Roni!

Signed Sealed Delivered

I mailed all except my RISD application today. I could've mailed them all but I want to give myself as much time as possible to make my #1 super duper.  I cannot express this enough: WHAT A LOAD OFF!  I feel 10 pounds lighter.  There are few things more frustrating than keeping separate school admission requirements straight.  I'm sure the entire world agrees with my plea to make application procedure universal. But, as Anna said to me a week ago while she was venting her frustration "This is how they weed out the ones who are not ready for graduate school!!!" to which i replied "It's still lame and rude, dude" 

In an attempt to not be a recluse for most of the week I made myself get back into my workout routine that has suffered for about a month. Yesterday I tried Zumba! True or False: You look graceful and talented while in a Zumba class? The answer is FALSE.  If you ever thought you were a killer dancer with all the right moves go ahead and give this a try.  This doesn't apply to me, of course. I obvs tore it up.

Also, in case you were wondering if I had a good sense of style, my fleece pullover with the snowman family on it would like to put in its opinion.







AND ART! something about art, something about art...I'm going here tomorrow!

Man, I sure do have some energy to burn.

R!

2011: The year of Follow Through

I just spent nearly an hour writing out this long boring entry where I touched on the last few years and blah blah blah and brought it around to present day and the change that has happened and then I decided to delete it. If you want to know my life story, ask :)

Instead I'm keeping it to the point and future focused!

The last few months I've put effort into actually trying to be a practicing artist.  Turns out, the more you put yourself out there, the more people know you exist! I've never really wanted to be "an artist" for a job, it's definitely more about being happy. I make things to be happy.  So far, it's going exactly as planned. I am happpyyy!

What is already planned for 2011 in order of occurrence :
1.    Various dates between Jan 3- Feb 1:  Send in graduate school applications (Interior design school). Preparing this portfolio has really opened my eyes to a type of art I had never considered.  It's completely different than finishing a painting and honestly it's turning out to be more satisfying...that's saying a lot because they're just ideas on paper!
2.    Jan 15: Finish spread for J. Annie's zine.  Haven't completely worked it out, but i'm excited.
3.    SOON: Finish Braig's housewarming/Christmas present
4.    THEN: Make a piece for Lesley Sickle's curated exhibit "Local Terrain" which will open May 18.  What I have planned is a departure from what I normally do so I need ample time for revisions.
5.    April: Solo exhibit of new paintings (1/3 Gallery hopefully)
6.    May 14: photograph a lovely spring wedding    
7.    Spring or Summer: Roadtrip across this beautiful country I have yet to explore. Whadda shame!
8.    Summer: If I get into school, move far away. bittersweet thought because I <3 the rust belt, my friends and family. But, I digress!

Between everything I have a bunch of tentative engagement/newborn/senior picture sessions that need dates attached.  I hope to contribute to the varying ventures my super talented friends are working on if they need any help.  My friends are ridiculously talented.  

Finally, I've decided on a resolution!  It's completely unrelated to what I've been writing about :)   This year I'm going to take less showers.  Or at least significantly shorter ones.  No matter what I do to try and live responsibly (rah rah dirty hippie) I cannot seem to take a short shower.  It's stupid! and very wasteful. Maybe limit to 10 minutes to start?

Happy New Year!

R!